Press Releases are an excellent way to get the word out. To be effective, there are some very simple guidelines to follow. Remember that these can be both online and offline. There are some excellent resources at the bottom of this page.
PRESS RELEASE TIPS:
1) Do not have a press release read like an advertisement. A press release should read like a news article. It should be factual and succinct.
2) Use quotations. Instead of saying, Ed Akehurst loved Viridian Energy it would be better to say When asked how Viridian Energy helped him, Ed Akehurst said, "I am very impressed with it. The green content is good for the planet and it has saved a lot of money each month."
3) Use short sentences and avoid long words. Write to a fifth grade education. You want the majority of people to be easily able to understand and comprehend your press release. If it sounds like literature (unless you are promoting a new book or piece of art), most people will not take action on it.
4) Have a call to action. People need to be told what to do if you have any expectation of them taking any action. This can be subtle rather than outright, but it must be there. If you are promoting an upcoming workshop for example, in the author box of an online submission, or at the end of the press release for a paper submission, there should be a statement that informs the reader that there is action they can take. For example: To register for this workshop, contact Ed Akehurst at 443-992-5004 or visit his website at http://www.SwitchEnergyToV.com.
5) Do not spend money in promoting your press releases. There are lots of free sources online (some are listed below) and your local newspapers will accept press releases. If they have a need to fill more space, they will print them. Contact the individual papers and ask what their policies are regarding press releases.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are an affiliate or associate for a company, check your agreement with them and make sure a Press Release is approved by corporate. Some companies do not allow any press releases and others want them pre-approved by corporate. Always stay in compliance. It is too easy to do things correctly, and there is no need to put your livelihood at risk. Press releases can be very helpful to your marketing efforts, but they are not the end-all-be-all piece of the puzzle, and if using them puts your business in jeopardy, they are no help at all.
PRESS RELEASE RESOURCES:
Here are some sites that offer free press releases: